Thanks to all anonymous reviewers who's reviewed lately.

Sorry I haven't updated in so long. I've always got on my mind that if I update this too often then I will run out of characters to use. Or get to write about characters that currently are in the show and then I might have to re-write chapters later on. That's a piece of why there is so much time in between the chapters. Now, here we are. I hope you like this chapter.

Oh, and happy new year.

Bailey Wharton

"Phew."

With the toaster standing in the kitchen sink and still smoke filling the whole kitchen there was no fire left at least. And twelve year old Bailey Wharton slumped coughing into a kitchen chair after putting it all out.

And just as he had sat down the doorbell rang.

Bailey sighed, on the way towards the hallway turned cold water on running. The toaster that had been on fire just a minute ago hissed and smoke worse than ever blew up in heaps towards the kitchen fan. Bailey started coughing but held his breath until at the door and opened it to a group of firemen.

"Yo."

"The fire brigade had a phone call. From a neighbor saying there was a lot of smoke in this flat." Bailey rolled his eyes. "Well." The fireman in the front looked Bailey up and down and on his soot-stained blue and red clothes. "It looks like you've already handled it pretty well. Should we check something and see if there's anything we can help you with?"

"I don't need your help." Bailey fizzled at the firemen. "I sorted it out myself." The fireman in the front signed into the hallway and Bailey stepped away. "In the kitchen, to the right."

Bailey figured the firemen must have figured already outside or through a neighbor the fire was put out. They were all walking in calm over to the kitchen and Bailey had more of enough time to figure, from the nametag on his jacket- the fireman who had talked was named Stephens.

"It was the toaster. I accidentally let some paper lie on top of it while it was on and it caught fire." The firemen nodded and studied the harm done on the kitchen counter and up towards the locker. It was soaking wet and there were wet towels lying over and around it. While it was still smoking, the firemen looked over it and they couldn't find more.

"Good idea with putting the toaster in the sink and pouring some water on it." Stephens turned the running crane off and lifted the toaster up. "It's been put out cold by the water but I don't think it will be a good idea to ever use this one again." He coughed from the smoke coming up in his face from the toaster and put it down into the sink again.

"Open the windows kid. That way all this smoke will have somewhere to go then in our lungs. Now, do you have a mum or a dad around?" Bailey shook his head. "Could you tell me where they are? It would be a good thing if they found out about this, don't you think?"

"Ehrm…" Bailey Wharton hesitated for a few seconds. "They're not at home. They'll be home tomorrow. Tomorrow. Yeah, they'll be home tomorrow. But though… I don't think they can't not see it when they come home to this." Bailey looked up and down on the locker, the counter and the cupboards under it. "Tomorrow yeah. They're coming home tomorrow. But I don't want to worry them now you know. I can do that when they come home to see this… tomorrow."

"Okay." Stephens nodded. But still Bailey could spot a weird expression in his face. Something he couldn't quite recognize. "Well. Be careful with the heat kid." Annoyingly, Stephens ruffled Bailey's black hair. "Let's go guys."

The firemen left the hallway and the flat with each nod to the kid in front of them. But not until Bailey heard the main door to his and some other flats close downstairs he breathed out and dared to move from the halfway burned-down kitchen and walked into the hallway. To check what he had already checked a million times before.

Bailey lifted the up-and-down put bowl on the hallway dresser. He had looked here about a million times the last couple of weeks. It was where his dad put some cash whenever he went away and wouldn't know for how long. He had this time too- only before he had never been gone for more than three days or so. Now it had been three weeks since Bailey saw his dad last.

And he had looked under the bowl at least a million times. He already knew there was no more money there. He already knew he was out of food too. He already knew he had searched every locker, the fridge and the freezer in the kitchen a million times.

Yet he walked around the flat and checked everywhere he would be able to find some kind of food once again. Even checking the burned toaster to find only more melted paper and burnt crumbles, all soaking with cold water.

At last, while his stomach rumbled with hunger. Bailey fell tiredly down into the living room couch and fell asleep for the night.

Bailey woke up the next morning from hearing a ring on the doorbell. At first he thought he was dreaming, turned on the other side and tried to fall back asleep. Then when there was another ring he just had to realize it was for leave and tiredly forced himself out of the sofa and stumbled through the living room and the hallway.

"Yes?"

Outside out in the stairs stood a man and woman Bailey didn't recognize. He looked from one to the other and tried to figure who they were and where they came from- unsuccessful. He probably would never have been able to guess for a hundred years anyway.

"Hello. You must be Bailey." Bailey nodded slightly at the man. "My name is Serjay and this is Maria." Serjay pointed to the woman by him. "We work for the social services and have been in contact a bit with your father lately. And we have been trying to reach him again during the last couple of weeks but we haven't had an answer. Is he in here with you?"

"No." Bailey answered with the truth straight away. Somehow he knew that lying wouldn't be a good idea at this point. "He's away right now. He'll be back home tomorrow."

Maria was holding onto a notebook. Serjay mumbled something to her, she nodded and wrote something. Bailey glared from one to the other and hoped that they would get the thing and just leave already.

"Can we come in?"

Bailey glared more. But he was twelve years old, old enough to get that protesting would make matters worse for him. So he opened the door fully and stepped away so Serjay and Maria could step in.

"If I get everything right you're Bailey Wharton?" Bailey nodded at the question. "And your dad is James Wharton?" He nodded again.

"He prefers Jimmy."

Bailey had a feeling that if he answered every question calmly and let them know as much as possible. Without telling too much of course.

"Prefers Jimmy. Make sure you note that. Now. You're saying he'll be back tomorrow. Is that right?"

"Yes sir."

Serjay mumbled something else to Maria. Who whispered something back. They were both wearing deep frowns on their faces. And while they talked, it was mumbling so bad Bailey couldn't hear what they were saying. He did catch his name, his dad's and something about leaving. Then more names he didn't recognize. And that before Serjay at last nodded and turned to Bailey.

"You know. The social services have got other services they keep in contact with. With many. Like the emergency services and the hospitals and all kinds of stuff. The fire brigade were here yesterday if I remember it correct. And from what I've heard you told them your dad was going to come home tomorrow. But that was yesterday so tomorrow is today. Except tomorrow isn't today and today isn't tomorrow, today is today." Bailey only watched Serjay and tried to sort out what he had just said. "Do you know what day your dad will be coming back? You're a bit too young to stay home all by yourself. Can you explain all of this to me?"

Bailey was starting to feel more and more insecure about this. It was like he already knew all of what he'd ever known was about to change.

Not that Bailey was going to let these people to know about. So with his heart beating hard he cockily shoved his hands in his pockets and hit his chin up.

"Come on man. It was late at night and I got a bit lost in what day it was. You know that kind of happens when it's just about midnight."

"I do know that… man." Serjay replied and mumbled something to Maria that Bailey couldn't hear. Maria whispered something back and Serjay nodded. "We're going to make a few calls. You can go into your room or into the kitchen or watch TV or whatever you want. Just as long as you stay in this flat. No running away! Where did the fire start by the way?" Bailey pointed to the kitchen and Serjay and Maria walked away. "Oh dear. Looks like you've been quite lucky… man. This could have ended up a whole lot worse than what he did."

Bailey nodded, as if he didn't know that already! Then swallowed one cocky contact after the other. If there was something he shouldn't do right now…

Serjay and Maria stayed in the kitchen. Bailey gave a deep sigh and went into the living room where he slumped into the sofa, pulled up his phone and tried to call his dad for what must have been the millionth time during the last few days.

"Dad?" Jimmy Wharton didn't pick up his phone so Bailey left another voice mail and hoped that if he told the truth Jimmy would pick up this time. "There's someone here from the social services. They're saying they scheduled meetings that you never came to. You should come here now. Please just call me."

During the nearest hour or so, Bailey could hear Serjay and Maria talking in the kitchen. Then talking to somebody else and each person as if they were talking on each phone. Then more talking to each other. And Bailey wished he could have heard what they said so he could decide what would be the best plane for what to do right now.

And then at last Serjay and Maria came into the living room and confirmed what Bailey had been most afraid of.

"We have made a few calls and sorted some things out. We have tried to reach your dad two more times without a successful result. And then talked about it a bit. And we think… that it might be for just a few days. But if you come with me, and I'll take you to a children's care home. It might be only until your dad comes back. Wherever he is now. And it will be made a whole lot easier if you cooperate."

Bailey looked from Serjay to Maria. Then back to Serjay, who obviously seemed a bit too self-confident. And Bailey hated people who acted too self-confident. Who on earth did the guy think he was just barging in here and taking him God knows where- he could take care of himself.

But a little voice in Bailey's head spoke up. You don't even have money for food. You've barely eaten for days.

"But he's going to be back tomorrow."

"Look. Sweetheart." Maria finally said something and came and kneeled in front of Bailey. "We have been in quite a lot of contact with your dad lately. And have arranged meetings… that he hasn't showed up to but anyway. Even if he does come back tomorrow. We think that it might be better if you stay somewhere else during a while. And if it shows your dad can take care of you like a parent should then you can come back here. Under some supervision from the start. Then it can go back to only being you and your dad again. But then you've got to cooperate now for a start."

"I am not your sweetheart." Bailey kicked Maria away. If this was the way it was going to be he was giving up, answering calmly and staying well-behaved wasn't working anyway. "And I am not going anywhere."

"I'm afraid you don't have much of a choice." Maria told Bailey. "I'm sorry."

Bailey silent. One part of him only felt like crying. For his dad being away, for not having able to eat for days. For the fire he had started and how angry Jimmy would become if he came home and saw the mess that had been made.

No way was he showing that to these social workers though.

Although maybe if he just did what he was told he would find another way out of this…

"We're going to go around the flat making sure the stove and all elements and things like that are turned off. You can go pack your belongings." Bailey nodded- no way was he giving up that easily though. He hoped though that Serjay and Maria wouldn't notice how quietly and carefully he closed his bedroom door. If they did they might become suspicious and open the door fully again to keep an eye on Bailey.

But luckily it did seem they didn't and Bailey would get some time of his own.

As quickly and as quietly as he could, Bailey took his backpack and threw the most important stuff in it. What was most important right then ended up a bit of different. His trainers, two extra shirts, a few pairs of underpants and a torch. He then threw the backpack over both of his shoulders, opened his window wide and climbed onto the window seal.

"Well Bailey." Bailey was startled and almost fell down from the window seal when Serjay, without knocking came into the room and spotted Bailey on the window seal. "First of all, get down from there."

Bailey desperately looked to his side where he had his arm and hand stretched out towards the downpipe. Seeing Serjay still in the corner of his eye he only tried. Just a little bit more, just a little bit more… If he could only get his hand around the pipe…

"Come… HERE." Just as Bailey thought he'd be able to let go of the window seal and reach the safety stairs Serjay grabbed his shirt and pulled him. With the result that Bailey fell right upon Serjay who stumbled back and fell towards the wall.

For a second it was quiet, maybe if he just got up and ran now Bailey would be able to get out of the apartment and away before someone had caught him. Maybe Serjay had been knocked unconscious when he hit his head towards the wall.

Maybe…

Bailey held Serjay down with a knee towards the other's stomach while he crawled onto his feet and then ran towards the door that Serjay had left open. Maybe…

"Don't even try it young man."

Maria caught him before he even was out of the living room. While Serjay still laid panting on Bailey's bedroom floor holding a hand over his aching stomach Maria held tightly onto Bailey and he stopped struggling.

There had to be another better way to do this.

"Have you got everything you need?" At last Serjay got onto his feet and up again. "Clothes and everything?" Bailey nodded. "Well, let's go then. And don't even think of trying to run away again."

As if.

It proved to not be so simple though.

Serjay, who was stronger than Maria grabbed him. Maria searched up Bailey's jacket and wallet and keys. They then walked out of the apartment and both of the two social workers held onto Bailey on the whole way from the third floor to the ground.

Maybe when they got into the car…

"I can take it myself from here Maria."

But Maria still held tightly onto Bailey. Who didn't make a move too much. Maybe if he just cooperated they would let him go and he only needed a second to run. Run and never ever look back.

But no. Maria forced him into the car and closed the door with a bang. While Serjay got into the driver's seat and locked the doors from the inside. And before Bailey had the time to unlock them again. Serjay had started the car and sped out of the parking lot and they were on their way.

"Now." He drove a minute in silence. And not until Bailey started to relax Serjay started telling him where he was going. "We have got a lot to do in the social services in town right now. And for you, we won't be able to do much unless we come in contact with your dad. I will take you to this children's care home called Ashdene Ridge. And we'll be in contact and if we hear from your dad we will let you know. And if you hear from your dad you must let us know. And a meeting should be sorted in a week or so to sort out all details about your stay here. Okay? Is everything clear? No running away. Okay?"

Bailey just nodded. As if Serjay could see him. Then watched the houses they passed by while Serjay pulled over in front of a big house with a sign that said "Ashdene Ridge" In front of it. Bailey unbuckled his bed and laid a hand on the door handle. Everything to get out of the car quickly and before Serjay. And then to run.

Well. If this was the game people wanted to play with him. Taking him away from everything and put him in a house full of kids because of one little mistake with the toaster. Then Bailey Wharton would make sure they played the game under his rules.

Random fact

You who watched already the early series of Tracy Beaker, you might have noticed that the fire at the Wharton's as Tracy's the first time she lived with Cam. From Bailey's story we only know that there was something with a toaster. And this is what I came up with. I thought it was kind of funny too if Bailey did the exact same thing as Tracy Beaker.

And an extra- if you have been reading this story and it's author's note. What Serjay says about today and tomorrow is based on the A/N I wrote for chapter fifteen- Hayley's chapter.

Until next time…